Mears, Mary Grinnell 1857-1935

MEARS, GRINNELL, JONES

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 11/3/2010 at 07:56:53

The Grinnell (IA) Herald; Tuesday, Sept. 10, 1935

MRS. MARY GRIN'ELL MEARS PASSES AWAY

Prominent and Influential Woman Died Saturday Night in Palo Alto, Calif., Aged 77

FUNERAL ON THURSDAY IN ESSEX, MASSACHUSETTS

Mrs. Mears Was Last Surviving Member of Family of J.B. Grinnell, Founder of This City

President J.S. Nollen received a telegram Sunday from Professor Elliott Grinnell Mears announcing that his mother, Mrs. Mary Grinnell Mears, had died Saturday night in Palo Alto, Calif., at the age of 77 years. The telegram also stated that the funeral would be held next Thursday at Essex, Mass., the old Mears home.

The death of Mrs. Mears is of special significance to Grinnell, in that it marks the passing of the last member of the immediate family of J.B. Grinnell, the founder of the city, which bears his name. Mrs. Mears' sister, Mrs. Carrie Grinnell Jones, preceded her in death some months ago.

Mrs. Mears and Mrs. Jones both retained during all their lives a deep affection and a helpful interest in Grinnell and in Grinnell College. Mears Cottage was named after Mrs. Mears who made its erection possible and both Mrs. Mears adn Mrs. Jones showed their interest in the college by many timely and helpful gifts.

Mrs. Mears was the widow of the Rev. David O. Mears, prominent Presbyterian minister, who died in Albany, N.Y., in 1915. She had one daughter, a young woman of great promise and unusual musical talent, who preceded her in death. She had been making her home with her son, Elliott, who is a professor in Leland Stanford University.

She was one of the last surviving founders of the parent-teacher movement in the United States, having been a delegate to the national congress of parents which met in Washington, D.C., in 1897, at which the Parent-Teacher association was born.

She organized the P.T.A. in New York state and was the first state president. The New York unit was the first to be organized. Until a short time before her death, Mrs. Mears was actively interested in the P.T.A., national matters, and took part in the organization of the association's Founder's day.